The tournament saw the world's top 24 men's teams and top 16 women's teams compete in 84 matchesGETTY IMAGES
The Rugby World Cup Sevens, a three-day tournament that concluded on Sunday, "drew more than 100,000 fans" to AT&T Park, according to Rusty Simmons of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Many of the fans "sported their country's colors" and all of them "seemed to dance, sing and cheer" as their teams competed. The event "featured the world's top 24 men's teams and top 16 women's teams." The most "fitting example of why the 84-match tournament is being deemed a resounding success" came during Sunday's New Zealand-Fiji semifinal. It was an "absolute showcase of talent on the pitch and festivity in the stands." That semifinal provided the "most raucous crowd of the weekend" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/23). In New Zealand, Adam Cooper noted World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper "subtly" indicated a bid for a future 15-a-side Rugby World Cup "would be welcomed" (NZHERALD.co.nz, 7/23).
KNOCKOUT FORMAT: The AP's Alex Espinoza noted neither of the U.S. teams "earned a medal," but players and coaches for the men's and women's teams agreed the tournament was "important in raising USA Rugby's profile." U.S. men's team captain Madison Hughes said, "It's disappointing to end the weekend like that. The energy of the crowd was just absolutely awesome all weekend." The knockout style of the tournament -- a "departure from the regular system of a group stage followed by knockouts -- drew some criticism from coaches and players." But Gosper said Sunday that World Rugby will "evaluate to see if the format could be used in future World Cups or world series events." Gosper said, "This format lends itself very well to a combined tournament. We'd like to see the women playing with the men in the same stadium, and to do that you change some formats" (AP, 7/22). Gosper also said, "We're getting a lot of positive feedback from fans about the drama of knockout." England men's coach Simon Amor said that he was "'pleased' with how his players adapted to the new structure." But England men's captain Tom Mitchell said he is "not totally sold on the new format." Mitchell: "There are pros and cons to it but it's up to World Rugby to keep mixing things up and keep improving the game" (BBC.com, 7/23).
